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The Things Doctors Say Part I
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The Things Doctors Say Part I
"This drug is perfectly safe."
"That's ridiculous – you haven't been on long enough."
"You have been off Xanax for a month now. Because of its short half life you could not possibly be still experiencing withdrawal symptoms."
"This must be due to some underlying psychological problem. I am going to switch you to Klonopin."
"You have a chemical imbalance in your brain – it's like being a diabetic. You will probably need this drug for the rest of your life. I think you need Paxil (Zoloft, Prozac – fill in the blanks) to handle your depression."
"I am the doctor here."
"You heard about this on the internet???"
"You haven't given it (the anti-depressant) enough time yet. Withdrawal symptoms should only last for a couple of weeks. You might feel a little "antsy" and like you have a bit of the flu for a few days." (Actually said to me by an addiction doctor who knew I was undergoing a 6 day taper from Ativan)
"And don't stop taking this medication, because if you need to start again later, it won't work anymore." (He was talking about Seroxat, aka Paxil.)
"Fourteen years?! I heard they used to use them a lot before the newer drugs came along." (Young UK Casualty doctor)
"The worst of the withdrawals should be over in about three days. If you're no better in a week, see your GP and he'll give you something. In the meantime get some sleep – you look terrible." (Same young UK Casualty doctor)
"I could give you a shot of Valium but I can tell you wouldn't thank me." (ditto)
"You're having a difficult time because you are too sensitive to medication!"
What my doctor says whenever she tries to convince me SSRIs are safe and I disagree with her: "Well, there have been studies."
"Take two, they're small."
"So, you say you are feeling better after tapering Xanax...the Xanax wasn't making you feel bad to begin with...you have simply "re-wired" your brain."
"People with anxiety disorders cannot become dependent upon benzodiazepines."
"You cannot possibly be addicted to Xanax...you never escalate your dose and you do not indulge in drug-seeking behavior."
"The withdrawal will be over within two weeks – tops."
"You are feeling agitated; restless and you can't sit still or concentrate? I am changing your diagnosis to manic depression."
"Why do you even bother to read that internet trash and upset yourself?"
"You will never be able to function without Xanax. You cannot handle absolute reality."
"Stop this nonsense (while in withdrawal from a benzo), if not the men in the white coats are coming to get you."
"And so what!!! Who cares if you are addicted to it? It's a small price to pay. By the time you need to take higher dosages you will be too old to come off and die addicted. If it bothers you, hang a picture of your mother in the garage and throw tomatoes at her."
"It's impossible to get addicted to something that your body really needs."
"Be careful about listening to people on the internet. Anyone with a keyboard can post there."
On Xanax: "Don't worry about addiction, because you are on such a low dose for your size and weight, addiction will never be an issue."
"If you take it every day on schedule you won't have to worry about addiction."
"Yes, I might have heard some depression could be possible, so I'm going to write you a prescription...."
"I can't help you if you don't take your medicine."
About tapering and looking down on me: "You only take 1mg. No, sorry, no idea about withdrawal...."
"This is the perfect drug for you....it's not addictive."
"All that's wrong with you is your nerves!" (said in an angry tone from the same doc who put her on Xanax, while she was in ER)
"It's just like diabetics need insulin...blah, blah." (same doc in ER)
"The withdrawal is over!" (said by psych after detoxing her off Xanax cold turkey and then off Klonopin in six weeks)
"What you have is deep depression." (same psych)
"I never heard of such a thing!!!" (after I told another psych about one of Dr. Ashton's articles that there is such a thing as protracted withdrawal)
"Well maybe you should just take her to that doctor in California [he meant England]." (same psych)
"Some people just have to take a little all the time." (3rd psych)
"That's very SLOW." (referring to taking my mom off about 1.25mgs of Ativan in TWO weeks)
"It can't be from withdrawal, it's been 2 weeks. He must have developed a seizure disorder."
"You could take it (this small amount) for 50 years and never get addicted."
"I'm not convinced this could be withdrawal. It is out of your system. You have underlying depression that needs to be treated. Why not go on 60mg Celexa?"
"I've never heard anything like it. I've never heard of anyone having so much trouble with benzodiazepines! Most people just have the *jitters* for about two weeks and that's it."
"These drugs are so good that I would like to see them put in the water. That way everyone can enjoy the benefit of them."
"You can't quit now, I have 6 more payments to make on my Mercedes Benzo...uh...I mean Benz. Hey...you look depressed, I can fix that!"
"Take two of these and call me next week when you wake up."
"The reason you're feeling blue is because you took the yellow one with the green."
One Liners from the VOT (Victims of Tranquillisers) Newsletter
August 1995, Issue One (and only)
Doctor to patient on benzodiazepine addiction:
"Your problem is because you were born in the blitz."
"Your problem is because you were born in a thunderstorm."
"These pills are OK, it's only the blue ones that are addictive."
"Get down on your knees and pray – you're an alcoholic."
"You'll never see an addict wake up in the night with withdrawal."
"You will take Valium for the rest of your or I will not treat you."
"If you don't agree to ECT I will put you on a section."
"You have been abused by hospitals and the drug companies – sue the bastards."
"Go away, I'm striking you off my patients list – I don't want addicts on my register."
Patient to doctor:
"I'm no longer frightened of hell because I've been there."
"It's funny I had a dream last night about the devil and he looked exactly like you."
Legal One Liners:
"Don't judge a Judge by his judgment." – Anonymous disillusioned legal gentleman
"I have found the Valium Defence has greater sleep inducing properties than a bottle of benzos." – Venerable legal gentleman
• This is why doctors say the things they do
• This is how they react when you question their judgment
With grateful thanks to:
Janet, Hilde, Liz, Steve, Ken, Yvonne, Carol, The Bill & Sandy Show, Terri, Deb, Pete, Diane, Tom, Billie, Reg Peart (VOT), Melody Ann, Madelon, Melli, Dennis
